-University of Memphis
Memphis, Tenn. - With three players scoring double-figures, the U of M (17-5, 7-2 C-USA) downed UCF (10-12, 5-5 C-USA) 65-57 on Play 4Kay Day at FedExForum, Saturday.
Early in the second half the Tigers, wearing pink jerseys, went on an 11-1 run spurred on by a Ramses Lonlack jumper. Lonlack, along with Jasmine Lee and Lauren McGraw, combined to put the Tigers ahead 44-34 with 12:44 remaining.
Later in the half, with Memphis leading 49-44, UCF pulled within two points on a layup by Aisha Patrick with 6:24 left to play. The Tigers responded, as their leading scorer on the afternoon, Nicole Dickson, nailed a jumper to extend the Memphis lead to 51-46. Under a minute later, Dickson drained a 3 pointer to put Memphis up 54-46. The junior would finish the game with 17 points, eight rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and one steal.
In the first half, Dickson led the Tigers in scoring, as she dropped 10 points, connecting on four-of-eight field goals. She collected the game's first points at 18:08, when she nailed a jumper to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. With an assist by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, Dickson then nailed a fast break three point bucket at 16:43, giving Memphis a 5-2 lead.
Abdul-Qaadir and Dickson combined for 18 points in the first half, as Brittany Carter checked in with six coming off the bench. Cater, the team's leading scorer, returned to action after missing the previous game with an ankle injury.
Abdul-Qaadir and Carter finished the game in double-figures. Adbul-Qaadir tied a season-high with 13 points, while Carter added 10. It marked the third straight game Abdul-Qaadir has scored in double figures for Memphis.
The Tigers led the entire first half, taking a two point advantage over the Knights into the locker room 29-27.
Memphis returns to action 7 p.m., Thursday, at SMU. The Tigers are 2-5 all time against SMU and this will be the first time four seasons that Memphis has made the trip to Dallas to face the Mustangs.
